Benson Henderson unfazed by Bellator 253 short-notice call, happy to fight at welterweight

Benson Henderson was happy to answer Bellator’s short-notice call, especially at welterweight.

Henderson (28-9 MMA, 5-4 BMMA) is moving back up to 170 pounds for the first time in eight fights when he takes on Jason Jackson in the co-main event of Bellator 253 on Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

The matchup was officially announced less than a week ago, but Henderson doesn’t expect that to be a factor. The former UFC and WEC lightweight champion explains that the weight cut has always been his toughest battle. Competing at welterweight means he can solely focus on the fight.

“My training camps normally are always pretty short,” Henderson told MMA Junkie. “My training camps are only like four to five weeks normally, because literally I’m in the gym all the time. I’m helping my teammates, I’m helping my brothers and sisters get ready for their fights, so all those guys, they need rounds and they need help running practice, so I’m in the gym all the time and getting ready for a fight. I only need a certain amount of time, and most that time is just to get down the weight so I am as ready as ever.

“Talk about five rounds tomorrow, I’ll give you five hard rounds, five rounds at 100 miles an hour tomorrow, no problem. So, yeah, definitely I’m ready. Being at 170 makes it just that much better for me so that I can concentrate on the fight. I can concentrate on my opponent. I don’t have to worry and obsess over how many calories I’m eating. When I’m eating my calories, the amount of protein I’m eating … the hard part for me is getting down the weight. So taking that out of the equation, I can just worry about Jason Jackson.”

Henderson, who saw his four-fight winning streak snapped by Michael Chandler at Bellator 243, didn’t mention which division he’ll settle on moving forward, but he remains a player at 155 pounds.